Authorities investigate Elgin infant's death

Authorities are investigating the death of a 9-month-old girl this week after she was found injured at her Elgin home and her brother was taken into state custody as officials probe abuse and neglect allegations against their parents.

Police originally were called to the girl's home in the 700 block of North Lyle Avenue in Elgin at 9:53 a.m., following an emergency call regarding a child not breathing, an Elgin police spokesman said. The allegations regarding the parents of the girl were reported Monday afternoon to the Department of Children and Family Services, said DCFS spokesman Dave Clarkin.

The girl was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was declared dead Friday at 4:45 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Following an autopsy, the Cook County medical examiner's office did not determine a cause or manner of death, pending further studies. Elgin police are conducting a death investigation, the spokesman said.

DCFS took custody of the girl’s brother and placed him in the care of relatives after the investigation of abuse and neglect began, Clarkin said.

The investigation is the second by DCFS involving allegations of abuse and neglect by the girl’s parents this year, Clarkin said. A prior allegation was made April 26, and both the girl and her brother placed in a relative’s custody, Clarkin said.

On June 25, DCFS found that there was credible evidence abuse and neglect took place, but a Kane County judge on July 31 ordered the children returned to their parents’ custody, Clarkin said.